Improvement in corsets



I.'DE vRR WARNER & L. c. WARNE CORSET.

No. 193,200. Patented July 17, 1877.

H. PETERS, PHDTU-LITHOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON D C.

IRA DE VER WARNER, or BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, AND LUOIEN C.- WARNER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORSETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 193,200 dated July 17, 1877 application filed May 17, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, IRA DE VER WARNER, of Bridgeport, Fairfield county, Connecticut, and LUCIEN O. WARNER, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented Improvements in Corsets, of which the following is the specification The object of our invention is .a corset constructed as fully described hereinafter, so as to preserve its shape without being unduly rigid, to permit the use of long elastic ribs or bones at any desired points, to con form nicely to the body of the wearer, and afford ready access to the breasts in nursing.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a front view of our improved corset; Fig. 2 a cross-section on the line 1 2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a view showing the forms of the pieces comprising one of the front sections of the corset; and Fig. 4., a modification.

Our improved corset belongs to that class in which the front sections are projected outward at the top, forming hollow semi-spherical receptacles forthe protection of the breasts.

This class of corsets, termed bosom-pad corsets, has heretofore been made of double thicknesses of cloth sewed together in parallel lines to form pockets for the ribs, and generally braced at the inner sid'eof each breast-receptacle by a transverse rib. The double thickness of cloth is objectionable in warm weather, and increases the cost of the articles, and the inside seams and cross-rib are apt to render the corset uncomfortable and irritating to the wearer, especially where the breasts are sore or inflamed, cases for which this style of corset is often specially constructed. Another difficulty resulting in the construction of corsets extending to such a height arises from the necessity of imparting the proper form without employing numerous pieces, requiring nice manipulation and the expending of considerable time to connect the sections properly, while the stiifness of the bosom portion has been an objection when access to the breasts is required for nursing.

The improved corseti consists of the front sections A A and rear sections B B, the for mer with the usual hooks, and the latter with the usual eyelets. Each front section consists of three or more strips, a a a a of about the form shown in Fig. 3, the two central pieces, when two are used, having nearly parallel sides arm" for over one-half of the length, and curved sides above, imparting to each the spoon-shaped form shown. When all are sewed together, edge to edge, the wide upper ends of the pieces form the breast-receptacles; and we have found that owing to the peculiar forms of these pieces such receptacle may be most advantageously formed to cover and protect the breast.

When the corsets are of two thicknesses of cloth, with the rib-pockets between, it is impossible to place the ribs at the points where they are most neededthat is, directly at the seams. It has been necessary, therefore, to put them at the sides of the seams, and to use one rib on each side. employ only a single thickness of cloth, and lay over each seam, and also at intermediate points a narrow strip of fabric, w, sewing it at each edge, and forming an overlying pocket for the rib, which is thus placed directly over the seam. The latter is less prominent and less irritating to the breasts than when two thicknesses are used, and the corset is cooler. v

In order to maintain the proper rounded semi-spherical or semi-pear shaped form of each of the breast-receptacles, we form the short side pockets at a each on a curve turning inward at both top and bottom, thus preventing the spreading of the breast portion, and causing it to protrude forward, while in termediate curved ribs 3 y serve to stiffen it.

These, however, constitute no part of our invention, except as they are contained in pockets overlying the rounded breast portions, preventing any inner seams that would affect the breasts. As the curved pockets :0 or prevent the spreading of the breast-sections at the edges, the ribs in the other pockets 3 cannot be flattened, and preserve their bent form, imparting the requisite rotundity to the breast portion without the aid of the stiffening usually required, and springing readily into shape after being compressed or flattened.

In order to permit ready access to the breast To avoid this we in nursing, the bosom-pad is formed with a receptacle, t, having a straight lower edge, .5, which supports the breast, preventing it from falling forward, avoiding the pinching of the same, which results from making a slit or V- shaped opening, as heretofore, and a cover is formed by a flap, I, of the shape shown. This flap is secured at the top by an eyelet, d, which pivots the flap so as to be turned to one side, and the lower end has a button-hole adapted to a button, w, but this end may be secured in any suitable manner. The opening t may be formed by cutting directly across both sections a a, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, but we prefer to use sections a a, and with intermediate short pieces 0 6, (shown in Fig. 1,) the top edge of the piece 0 forming the edge .9 of the opening.

In order to avoid the use of curved bones inside the breast-receptacle to hold it in shape when open, we provide above and below the opening t series n of parallel pockets for the reception of small bones, which effectually attain the desired result.

We claim I 1. A bosom-pad corset in which each front section consists of the pieces a a a? (1 constructed and connected substantially as described.

2. The combination of the curved side pockets w m and the intermediate curved overlying pockets, extending from the top to below the breast-receptacles, as specified.

3. A bosom-pad corset, having in the breast an opening, t, with a transverse lower edge, 8,

as set forth.

4. The flap I, pivoted at the upper end to theupper portion of a bosom-pad corset, sub

stantially as specified.

5. The combination of the pieces a a and intermediate pieces 6 0, arranged to leave an opening, it, as set forth.

6. The cross-ribs u, arranged above and Witnesses to the signature of I. De V. Warner:

G. A. STAPLES, HENRY G. HILL.

Witnesses to signatures of L. C. Warner:

N. H. GILLETTE, H. J. BURROWS. 

